A man burst into the village, spreading rumors that he intended to marry me.

The villagers were ecstatic, unable to contain their excitement.

After all, I was notorious in Green Heights Village for being the wicked woman who turned heads and sparked gossip.

But how could I ever leave this place?

This was where my mother was buried, her shattered remains resting beneath the earth.

——

As Justin McAvoy passed through our village, he spotted me plucking lotus flowers from the muddy pond.

That evening, a rush of hot air blasted against my face, jolting me upright in an instant.

Having been cooped up in a doghouse since childhood, I'd learned to fight fiercely against the wild dogs that came to snatch my food.

My reflexes and aggression were honed to a hunter's edge.

In the blink of an eye, I knocked Justin out cold and tossed him aside.

The next morning, I awoke to find Village Chief George Moore grinning at me, his smoker's teeth yellowed with years of ash. "Well, looks like you've been sullied! Just means you'll have to marry him now," he chuckled.

The others around nodded eagerly, their eyes sparkling with mischief. "Exactly! In this village, no one wants you. You should grab the chance while it's ripe!"

A limping man, clearly afraid, nudged the loudmouth who spoke up. "Are you out of your mind? The girl's not even married yet, and you're acting all high and mighty?!"

The braggart spat, unaffected. "She killed my old cow and broke my brother's leg with a damn horn—where was this concern then?"

He scrutinized me, a look of disdain crossing his face. "I thought you were fiercer, Alicia. Turns out you're just an easy lay."

I shot a cold glare at the crowd, my patience wearing thin. "It's all about parents' orders and marriage matches! Alicia, you might as well tie the knot; after all, one of us is your dad!"

I narrowed my eyes, searching for the owner of the voice.

My pulse quickened, and as anger surged, I felt the urge to find someone in the village to unleash my wrath upon.

With a swift, vicious grip, I seized the man's throat, my fingers squeezing until his veins bulged, eyes nearly popping out of his sockets.

I took a deep breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over me as I hurled him down the hillside like a discarded chicken.

Flashing a smile that could light up the darkest corners of the village, I casually remarked, "So, you guys really want me to marry him?"

The group fell silent, eyes darting from the crumpled figure rolling down the slope to each other, exchanging glances of disbelief.

I dusted off my hands, chuckled lightly, and added, "Alright then, let's do it."

The folks in Green Heights Village were terrified of me.

One guy, unable to stand my presence, decided to pour a bucket of calf's blood into my home while I was sleeping, then let the grieving mother cow in.

He stood outside, snickering to himself, but three minutes later, I emerged, gripping a cow horn in my hand, still warm with blood on my face.

His expression shifted from smugness to sheer panic as he turned to flee.

Unfortunately for him, that little stunt left him with a permanent disability—his thigh pierced through, leaving him unable to stand again.

I had reluctantly agreed to marry Justin.

One day, Amanda Dent showed up at my door, a basket of eggs in her hands, worry etched on her face. "Alicia, are you really going through with this?" she asked, concern heavy in her voice.

I met her gaze, and she sighed deeply, "What kind of man goes around bragging about you having sex with him before you're even wed? You're a strong girl; why the sudden change?"

Yes, in this godforsaken place, there were still those who cared for me.

I decided to steer the conversation away from my impending marriage and picked up an egg. "Did you gather these with the others?"

She nodded, her brow furrowed. "You don't have parents, and we've watched you grow up like you were our own. Your mother... she came with us, but..." Her voice trailed off as she wiped away a tear.

A muscle in my neck twitched.

"Amanda, you should head back. Your husband will find out you brought me these eggs and will give you hell."

That evening, Justin swaggered into my home as if he were already my husband.

He reached out to touch me, but I shot him a glare that made him pull back.

"I've heard from the villagers that you've got quite the fiery spirit," he said, trying to sound authoritative. "But with a little discipline, I'm sure we can work it out."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

The villagers wanted him to take me away, hoping he'd mistreat me, yet they were terrified he'd discover who I really was and back out.

So they spun this tale instead.

I served myself a second bowl of noodles, just the right amount for two. Justin slurped his down with a satisfying noise, but as he stood to leave, he suddenly collapsed back onto the table, clutching his stomach in agony.

I finished my last spoonful of broth and wiped my mouth.

"What did you put in this?" he whimpered, his features twisted in discomfort.

I knelt beside him, squeezing his cheeks until they turned pale. "You need to tell them you're going to observe me for a while. Make it a fortnight before you leave."

He looked bewildered, but it was clear he was under my spell now. The antidote was in my hands, and he had no choice but to comply.

Before long, fishes were hooked.

For the first time in Green Heights Village, someone had emerged who could potentially subdue me. The villagers, sensing an opportunity, flocked to my doorstep.

Marvin Hartey, the same man who had previously dared to challenge me, was the first to arrive. I was crouched, dutifully washing Justin's feet.

"Wow, Alicia, this meek act is quite a sight," Marvin sneered, his eyes flicking to Justin, but his words were directed at me. "Make sure you keep up the facade. Don't let anyone catch you slipping."

Justin's body trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, as he spoke, "Come inside for a while, Alicia. Get him a glass of water."

Marvin's grin widened as he sauntered into the house, collapsing onto the sofa and crossing his legs, looking every bit the cocky guest. "Alicia, make me a cup of coffee," he demanded.

I followed him inside, closed the door, and headed towards the wardrobe.

"What are you doing? Are you deaf or something?" Marvin snapped, his annoyance clear.

I turned to face him, a slow, deliberate smile spreading across my lips.

With one swift motion, I kicked him into the wardrobe.

The man tumbled down, a series of muffled thuds echoing as he fell into the hidden chamber I had prepared meticulously beneath. I descended after him, gagging and binding him to a wooden post.

"Make another sound and I'll break a finger," I warned coolly.

Marvin's bravado evaporated; his eyes darted around the dark, damp cellar, his body trembling uncontrollably.

I removed the gag from his mouth. "How did my mother, Miranda Knightley, die?" I demanded.

Marvin rolled his eyes, thinking hard before hesitatingly answering, "She... she fell off a cliff..."

A solid wooden rod struck him, eliciting a sharp yelp of pain.

"If you don't start telling the truth, you'll be beaten without the luxury of clothes."

Marvin panicked instantly. "It was... it was a hanging!" he blurted out.

"Who did it?"

He shook his head, "I don't know."

Another sharp crack, this time with a slender rod that inflicted a stinging, acute pain. Tears streamed down his face.

"I swear, I don't know! George was the one who told us to bury Miranda. All I saw was a ligature mark on her neck. I don't know who did it!"

I retrieved his phone, found George's contact, and sent a text message before gagging him once more.